KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

LAMP has a long history of providing top-notch speakers that introduce first-line and front-line leaders to innovative, relevant and forward-thinking strategies, techniques, and tools to help them build their business in the year ahead. All sessions undergo a rigorous peer-vetting process and each speaker must provide an innovative insight into growth and development, a forward-thinking tactical takeaway or a breakthrough trend or tool for action that has been previously tested.

Bonnie Godsman

CEO at GAMA International

Godsman joined GAMA International 16 years ago, where she rose through the ranks to become vice president for corporate and business development. In this role, she oversaw all revenue departments at the association, including Membership, LAMP, Communications and PMG Corporate Relations. Since her promotion to that position in 2012, GAMA has seen dramatic growth in revenue, membership, membership retention and LAMP attendance. In June 2014, Godsman took the helm as GAMA’s first, and youngest, female CEO.

Mark Bonnett

President at GAMA International

Mark Bonnett is a partner and senior vice president with Minneapolis–based North Star Resource Group. He has been affiliated with the firm since 1998. In his role with the executive leadership team, he provides strategic direction for the firm, as well as oversees branch offices in the Southwestern United States. As of April 1, 2017, Mark is the second-youngest president of GAMA International, the premier association responsible for leadership and professional development within the financial services profession globally. Mark’s commitment to building the financial services industry and financial education is unwavering, as is his passion for preserving face-to-face relationships within the profession as a whole.

Renee Mauborgne

Author of "Blue Ocean Strategy"

Renee Mauborgne is the co-author of the global bestseller Blue Ocean Strategy (Harvard Business Review Press) and the just released, indispensable follow-up, BLUE OCEAN SHIFT: Beyond Competing – Proven Steps to Inspire Confidence and Seize New Growth (Hachette Books, September 2017). BLUE OCEAN SHIFT is a New York Times Bestseller, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, and an International Bestseller. Her book Blue Ocean Strategy has sold over 3.6 million copies and is recognized as one of the most iconic and impactful strategy books ever written.

Jocko Willink

Retired U.S. Navy Seals

Jocko Willink is a decorated retired Navy SEAL officer, author of the book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become a SEAL officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city.

Oz Pearlman

Mentalist

Oz Pearlman is a world-class entertainer, whose client list reads like a who’s who of A-list celebrities, heads of state and Fortune 100 companies. He captivated the nation on America’s Got Talent with his unique brand of mentalism and mind reading, winning third place out of thousands of acts. You may have also seen him on Jimmy Fallon or during his dozens of appearances on the TODAY Show. After witnessing him Off-Broadway, the New York Times declared “Even SKEPTICAL viewers are won over!” Prepare to be AMAZED by Oz!

Olenka Cullinan

CEO of Rising Tycoons

Olenka Cullinan, is a speaker, founder of Rising Tycoons and #iStartFirst Bossbabe Bootcamps, Amazon bestselling author, Bossbabes and Millennial success coach. Olenka has developed a “Backbone of Success”™ method that helps leaders to up-level their business and mindset. Her work as a startup venture mentor nationwide, combined with humor and personal experiences led to her two TEDx talks, Phoenix Business Journal 40Under40class of 2017, global exposure and made her into one of the nation’s premier consultants. You can find her on social media below.

Rick Rigsby

CEO of Rick Rigsby Communications

Dr. Rick Rigsby is President and CEO of Rick Rigsby Communications. The former award-winning journalist followed a television career with graduate school—and two decades as a college professor . . . most of those years at Texas A&M University, where he also served as character coach and chaplain for the Aggies football team. Dr. Rick’s dynamic presentations motivate, empower and inspire worldwide—from Africa and Asia, to the Americas, Europe and Canada.

Kindra Hall

VP of Marketing & Storyteller

Kindra is an award-winning columnist, author, and national champion storyteller. As a former Director of Marketing and VP of Sales, Kindra discovered the most effective method for capturing attention and increasing revenue—great storytelling. Kindra’s work has been featured in SUCCESS Magazine and behind the scenes in New York Times best selling books. A former board member of the National Storytelling Network, and with a Masters’ Degree in Org Comm & Management, Kindra now teaches innovative brands and executives to close more sales, become better leaders and blow up brands with the irresistible power of strategic storytelling.

Athan Vorilas

Chair of GAMA Foundation

Athan Vorilas has been the president/managing partner of Lighthouse Financial Network, LLC since 2008, and he and his firm have been highly recognized throughout his career. His passion for helping other financial professionals grow their practice is a critical part of his core values. Athan has been a featured speaker both domestically and internationally, and was instrumental in establishing “GAMA Hellas” as the first European chapter for GAMA International. He is a passionate advocate for the value of the GAMA Foundation’s research, and its ability to move field leaders and their organizations into the future.

Deirdre Van Nest

Creator of the Crazy Good Talks™ Blueprint

Deirdre Van Nest is the Go-To Expert for financial professionals on the topic of speaking. She is the creator of the Crazy Good Talks™ Blueprint, a system that teaches advisors, agents, and leaders how to build a brand and bring in business through the power of speaking. Deirdre is a keynoter, trainer, Certified World Class Speaking™ Coach, contributing author of the Amazon bestseller World Class Speaking™ in Action and author of “Fire Your Fear™. She’s helped 1000’s of financial professionals learn how to gain a competitive edge and leverage their marketing time using speaking.

PRACTITIONERS

Farshad Asl

Bankers Life

Farshad Asl is a serial social entrepreneur, Regional Director of Bankers Life, Founder of Top Leaders, Inc., a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, an internationally renowned speaker, and an Amazon bestselling author. As a result of building one of the country’s largest sales organizations, Farshad received many coveted honors such as the Excalibur Award, the Coat of Arms, the Frontline Leader Award from GAMA International (Diamond level) and has been a member of the Executive Council for nearly a decade.

Sina Azari

Present Financial Partners

Sina Azari was appointed vice president of Present Financial Partners in October 2016. Azari began his career with Bankers Life in 2003 as a rookie sales agent where he was a consecutive MDRT qualifier. In 2007, he was promoted to branch sales manager and in 2011, recognized as the youngest leader in his role to take on the associate regional director position with CNO Financial Group. Since being in leadership, Azari has been a GAMA Frontline Leader. Azari earned a Bachelor of Science degree from SFSU and currently resides in Orange County, Ca.

H. Adam Holt

AXA

Adam Holt is the Managing Partner of RubinGoldman and Associates one of AXA Advisors’ top firms located in Philadelphia, PA. For the past 20 years Adam has been a wealth management professional instrumental in bringing innovative practice management technologies to his organizations. Adam is the CEO and Founder of Asset-Map; a visual technology platform used by thousands of financial professionals globally to engage clients in a holistic discussion of their financial condition. Adam’s technology innovations have awarded his organization significant accolades in the FinTech community and he is commonly referenced in trade publications for his views on the future of financial services. Adam earned his Bachelors of Science in Economics and Planning from Rutgers University, an MBA from Drexel University and his ChFC designation from the American College.

Meryl Rosenthal

Industry Workplace Culture Consortium

Meryl is passionate about helping companies and their people embrace new ways of working and collaborating. As CEO, co-founder and board member of FlexPaths, a workplace consultancy she co-founded in 2005, her mission is to help individuals, teams and leaders make successful transitions when cultural, workspace or workstyle changes are planned or underway. Under Meryl’s direction, her team of subject matter experts work with Fortune 1000 companies to create internal alignment, roadmaps, and change management plans and implement new programs and practices.

Debra Jasper

Mindset Digital

As founder and CEO of Mindset Digital, Debra Jasper, Ph.D., applies her deep passion for powerful storytelling to helping professionals capture attention in a digital age. Debra has given talks to more than 50,000 professionals around the world, from the Australian Global Internet Conference to Sweden’s Schibsted Academy and the Ukrainian Council of Ministers.

Emily Viner

Industry Workplace Culture Consortium

Emily Viner is responsible for the growth, development and retention of Guardian’s Leadership Bench, in addition to heading Guardian’s strategy to create gender, ethnic & generational diversity in its advisor ranks nationally. Most recently Viner has built an industry leading Leadership Development Program & two year Rotational Leadership Program delivering bottom line results, including, a 100% increase in number of Managing Directors, a 100% increase in number of recruits from Managing Directors and the movement of 26 individuals to first line leadership or bench readiness.

Travis Penfield

AXA

Travis is a Founder and also Managing Partner of 49 Financial in Austin, Texas. Travis works with individuals and business owners to help them define their financial goals and provide strategies, products and services to help them work toward their objectives. Travis has been in the top three highest producers for 2013,2014, and 2015 for the developing sales force (DSF) on the national level within AXA. He was honored as the top manager in all of Texas in 2015 as well as the fourth highest ranking manager throughout the United States.

Eric McDermott

The Guardian

Join Eric McDermott, Managing Partner of the GAMA Master Agency, Pacific Advisors. Learn how he is taking more than 15 years of outside expertise in new initiatives and enterprise marketing, combining it with his eight years of inside knowledge of our industry, and inventing a new kind of leadership for us to consider: The Inside-Outsider.

Dave Porter

Mass Mutual

Glenn Mattson

Sandler Training

As Founder and CEO of Mattson Enterprise, Inc., Glenn oversees an elite team of practice development consultants who provide solutions to agency leaders and financial advisors facing the challenges of achieving extraordinary success in highly competitive and overcrowded markets. Glenn is an extremely sought after keynote speaker, a gifted and respected platform trainer, coach, advisor and author. “My business is helping my clients transform their business into a more efficient, productive and profitable one.”

Jim Mellin

AXA

Jim Mellin is chief sales officer of AXA Advisors, LLC, the company’s wealth management division, responsible for sales, management development, recruiting, retention, productivity and the development of new and experienced financial professionals in 43 branches throughout the United States. During his career with AXA, Jim has achieved Centurion status six times, and Bronze Eagle once. He is a member of AXA’s Hall of Fame. Since joining Wisconsin Branch, Jim has helped the branch achieve the company’s President’s Trophy four times. He is also a member of Forum 400 and AALU.